Honda Prelude Service
Our Honda Prelude service specialists at Toole's Garage has been your Honda experts in the San Carlos, Valley Springs, and San Francisco areas since 1983. As the first Honda Independent Repair facility, we take pride in knowing the ins and outs of your Honda Prelude service schedule. We know what it takes to keep your Honda Prelude in top shape.
Honda Prelude - Facts about your sports coupe
The Honda Prelude was perhaps one of the Japanese automaker’s most popular and innovative vehicles ever produced. Spanning five generations of vehicles over 22 years, the Prelude was Honda’s leading edge for technology and style. Many of Honda’s current standard features, like VTEC electronic variable timing systems and double wishbone suspensions, first premiered on the Prelude.
The Prelude began life in 1978 as a stripped down accord but left production in 2001 as one of the best reviewed front wheel drive four-cylinder engine cars ever produced. The first generation was muscular but little else, but the second generation Prelude wowed everyone with its engineering and power. The 1982 and 1983 Prelude models were considered nearly perfect for the time, and they marked the first time the double wishbone suspension system was used by Honda.
In the third generation of Prelude, Honda experimented with a completely mechanical four-wheel steering system. Unlike every other 4WS ever created, the Prelude always maintained a direct mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the rear wheels rather than using a computer to control the rear wheels indirectly. The external design of the 3rd generation also excelled, from lowering drag coefficients and increasing fuel economy, to nearly eliminating driver blind spots. It was named Wheels Magazine’s Car of the Year for 1987.
Honda changed everything about the Prelude’s appearance for the fourth generation release in 1992. However, the handling was improved and the VTEC timing was introduced in the 1993 model, bringing more accolades from car magazines around the world.
In 1997, the fifth and last generation of Preludes was released. It was larger, heavier, more expensive and returned to an appearance reminiscent of second and third generation Preludes. The 1997 model was named the “Best Handling Car Under $30,000) by Car and Driver. Unfortunately, America was turning towards SUVs rather than coupes, and the Prelude was discontinued in 2001. Throughout its long run for Honda, the Prelude made Car and Driver Magazine’s “Ten Best List” ten times in 22 years.